The Best Hotels and Resorts in the US, Canada, and the Caribbean: The Gold List 2025
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For 31 years the editors of Condé Nast Traveler have been compiling this annual compendium of hotels and cruises we’ve discovered, or fallen in love with all over again. We highlight them not only for their beauty, comfort, or impeccable service, but also because we’ve developed deeply emotional relationships with them: These are the hotels and cruises we recommend to our friends, that we tell stories about later. Below are the best hotels and resorts in the US, Canada, and the Caribbean, according to our editors.
See the full 2025 Gold List here.
This gallery has been updated with new information since its original publish date.
The Ritz-Carlton New York, NoMadhotelThe Ritz-Carlton New York, NoMad
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Gold List 2025 
Hot List 2023 
Readers' Choice Awards 2023, 2024When the Ritz-Carlton flung open the doors of its new Manhattan flagship at West 28th Street and Broadway two years ago, the classic brand was making a bit of a daring declaration as to its direction. Moody and modish, the property is a far cry from the (splendidly) prim and proper Central Park location some 30 blocks north. There’s glass everywhere, for one thing, with the 50-story sleek slice of skyscraper designed in part to make the most of that killer location’s downtown views and light. The sun-soaked interiors are dramatic and textured—concierge desks in the grayscale lobby are made of almost zebra-print granite. A leafy, book-lined bar just off it leads to the excellent Spanish-Japanese fusion restaurant The Bazaar from José Andrés upstairs with its plush upholstery, coffee-and-plum palette, and scenery-chewing jamón Ibéerico centerpiece (Andrés’s group also designed the complimentary menu in the very worth-it club level). Rooftop bar Nubeluz is a jewel-toned wonderland of wallpaper; highlights include the pleated emerald fabric of the elevator vestibule and the feathered Schumacher number that hugs each booth. Wrapped from floor to ceiling in blond wood, my suite on the 36th floor, with its deep, deep sofa of chocolatey crushed velvet, offers grand views of Manhattan; I could even see all the way down to the World Trade Center. All of this style would matter little, however, were the service anything less than superlative. It absolutely is. Despite bookings being full to the brim most nights, there’s no indication that the staff have eyes for anybody but you from check-in to checkout. From $895. —Charlie Hobbs
Courtesy Zero GeorgehotelZero George — South Carolina
$$ | Gold List 2018, 2020, 2025 Readers' Choice Awards 2017, 2018, 2019, 2021, 2023, 2024To the naked eye, the five beautifully restored 1804 residences and carriage homes at the corner of George Street and East Bay constitute just another pretty block in Charleston: warm brick, statuesque façades, breezy column-studded verandas, and flickering lanterns. But veteran hospitality duo Dean Porter Andrews and Lynn Easton knew better when they selected this spot to launch their bespoke brand of Lowcountry luxury in 2013. The hotel’s magic lies in the exclusivity and privacy of its interior: a hidden labyrinth of meticulously manicured gardens, crushed oystershell pathways, and calming fountains connecting five distinct historic dwellings into a retreat guests love to call their home in the Holy City. From $349. —Allston McCrady
The Colony HotelhotelThe Colony Hotel — Florida
$ | Gold List 2025 Readers' Choice Awards 2022, 2023, 2024Stepping inside the Colony Hotel is like entering a scene from a storybook or a Wes Anderson film, a whimsical balance of the vintage and in vogue. Within its pink stucco walls, reality transforms into the glamorous yet laid-back Palm Beach of days gone by. Since Andrew and Sarah Wetenhall purchased the hotel in 2016, the guest rooms and villas have undergone a multiyear restoration, reviving the landmark institution while still maintaining its iconic tropical eclecticism. Located right between the beach and the shops of Worth Avenue, it’s the perfect home base for exploring the island—if you can ever pull yourself away from its fanciful charms. From $499. —Hannah Towey
San Ysidro RanchhotelSan Ysidro Ranch — California
$$$ | Gold List 2025 Readers' Choice Awards 2017, 2021, 2022, 2023It might seem like a miss to go to Santa Barbara and not stay close to the shore, but the moment you make the turn inland onto San Ysidro Road, you realize that being here isn’t about visiting Santa Barbara; it’s about visiting the ranch. Just 38 cottages, each with their own unique layout, decor, and view, are spread out over 550 acres, but rather than being scattered, they form a ring within the property. At the resort’s center is a collection of gardens as well as a rectangular- pool that overlooks the canyon. Some of the curated finds you’ll see throughout are museum-quality art, antiques sourced from billionaire owner Ty Warner’s world travels, and handmade wallpapers (even on the ceilings of the showers). But San Ysidro Ranch isn’t your typical hotel—as its history of having legendary guests like Jacqueline and John F. Kennedy, who honeymooned here, or John Huston, who finished writing the screenplay for The African Queen on the property, can attest. And the ranch continues its legacy as a celebrity refuge, as modern-day A-listers use this tucked-away spot to truly hide out and escape—which is what you should do too. From $2,495. —Samantha Brooks
Heather Anne Thomas/Courtesy Blackberry FarmhotelBlackberry Farm — Tennessee
$$$ | Gold List 2018, 2025 Readers' Choice Awards 2017, 2018, 2021, 2023, 2024The stories are all true—the ones you’ve heard about the fleecy Italian truffle dogs, the perfect timber-frame barn imported from Pennsylvania, the well-groomed hiking trails and bridle paths that give you access to the quiet forests of the Great Smoky Mountains. The place is a bit of paradise in eastern Tennessee, full of little details that feel plucked from a storybook: the dollhouse-like white church, the covered bridge, the generous cottages with porches ideal for putting your feet up while drinking a whiskey and snacking on pimento cheese. But what really takes Blackberry to the next level is the Southern hospitality. From the servers to the adventure guides, everyone brings their passion to work every day, and by the time you leave, you’ll find you’re feeling pretty passionate too. From $1,145. —Jesse Ashlock
Courtesy Fogo Island InnhotelFogo Island Inn — Newfoundland, Canada
$$$ | Gold List 2025 Readers' Choice Awards 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024For anyone who has bemoaned the flattening of cultures everywhere, Fogo Island offers a beacon of hope. On this remote island off the coast of Newfoundland and Labrador that’s slammed by wind and waves, cod-fishing communities hold on to their distinctive settler history—and accents—despite mounting pressures. But a dwindling community, no matter how beautiful or historic, offers little financial value. Armed with this belief, local-born entrepreneur Zita Cobb dreamed up Fogo Island Inn as a community-owned hospitality business that could improve the island’s economic resilience by plugging it into a wider world. Since it flung open its doors in 2013, those utopian founding principles have lured purpose-driven luxury travelers to the 29-room inn—as have its dramatic views, daily changing menus, and wilderness excursions featuring geological hikes and forest boil-ups (a traditional meal warmed over a fire in the great outdoors). But its greatest distinction remains the islanders themselves, whose wellsprings of warmth define your stay. These boat builders, quilters, and storytellers welcome you into their sheds for singalongs and salted cod, allowing you to really understand this place—and how everything knits together. From $2,100. —Arati Menon
Courtesy Four Seasons Resort HualalaihotelFour Seasons Resort Hualālai — Hawaii
$$$ | Gold List 2019, 2025 Hot List 2022 Readers' Choice Awards 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024There are few resorts as suited to different types of travelers as this celebrated hotel on the Kona coast of the Big Island. Composed of low-slung Hawaiian-style buildings set into a series of crescents, each area has its own vibe and distinct clientele, from lively family-friendly sections to serene pockets ideal for honeymooners. Regardless of where you stay, however, you’ll be treated to postcard-perfect views of the Pacific Ocean, the property’s verdant golf course, and the sense that this place somehow exists in a permanent state of tranquility. New for this year—and not to miss—is chef Tyler Florence’s Miller & Lux steakhouse. From $1,200. —Juliet Izon
Courtesy Mandarin Oriental New YorkhotelMandarin Oriental, New York
$$$ | Gold List 2025 Readers' Choice Awards 2017, 2018, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024As a longtime Upper West Sider, I’ve strolled through Central Park dozens of times; that didn’t make the sweeping views from the Premier Central Park View Suite any less awe-inspiring. The accommodations were just as spectacular, with a massive U-shaped couch, a fluffy king-size bed, and heavy blackout shades that close at the touch of a button. Because of its top-tier service, sumptuous amenities, and fantastic central location, the Mandarin Oriental is both an excellent special-occasion staycation for New Yorkers and a prime landing spot for out-of-towners seeking easy access to Broadway, Central and Bryant Parks, and Fifth Avenue. Guests have easy access to two Michelin-starred restaurants, Per Se and Masa; a flex even by New York standards. From $800. —Madison Flager
Courtesy Post Ranch InnhotelPost Ranch Inn — California
$$$ | Gold List 2022, 2025 Readers' Choice Awards 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024The Post Ranch Inn is nothing so much as a total immersion in the singular landscape of Big Sur, in environs defined by a sense of understated luxury. The Ranch’s 40 rooms have all been designed to both blend in with and have a light touch upon the land, and range from treehouses to clifftop suites with expansive views of the mountains to the east or, better yet, the ocean’s expanse to the west. Engage with the environment some more by exploring the property’s hiking trails, taking a tour of the chef’s garden, or signing up for a falconry lesson. From $1,875. —Lauren Sloss
Courtesy Woodstock Inn & ResorthotelWoodstock Inn & Resort — Vermont
$$ | Gold List 2025 Readers' Choice Awards 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024Grand, but not fussy. Of another era, but far from old-fashioned. The Woodstock Inn & Resort is the Goldilocks property that’s managed to evolve with the times while maintaining its quintessential New England charm. Situated across from the town green, the Federal-style mansion feels like a Norman Rockwell reverie. Inside, the cozy lobby serves as a communal living room where guests read newspapers. Outside, families toast s’mores around fire pits and play lawn games. Regular updates to the 200-plus-year-old hotel, including a glow-up of all 142 rooms and the addition of a Scandi-chic spa, ensure that loyal East Coasters keep returning for generations. From $299. —Jen Murphy
Courtesy Wynn Las VegashotelWynn Las Vegas
$$$ | Gold List 2019, 2022, 2025 Readers' Choice Awards 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023When my mother and I first moved from the Philippines to the United States in 2003, we came to settle in Las Vegas. Among the entertainment capital’s flashy and over-the-top hotel offerings, my mother—and her preference for refined elegance—most often led us to the Wynn, which opened in 2005 as, in my childhood memory, the first nonthemed resort on the iconic Strip, where facsimiles of Venice, Paris, and Caesar’s Rome dominated the landscape. At the roughly 4,700-key property (which includes the original building and its sibling, the Encore, added in 2008), the theme, if I must name one, seemed to be luxury itself. To return to it now, as it gears up for its 20th anniversary in 2025, feels like a homecoming: Its casinos, high-end shops, and myriad dining and drinking outlets (29 of them, not including the three nightclubs) are better than ever, entertaining guests who’d rather indulge in high thread counts than days—or nights—of Sin City debauchery. As such, the rooms have gotten a significant upgrade in the last few years. My Tower Suite on the 40-something-th floor was tastefully designed, recently renovated in 2022, dressed in warm neutral tones, and equipped with easy-to-use tech like window shades that can open at a specified time and bring in the desert sun as I rose in the morning. The drapery, the bed, the small section of carpet in the bathroom—they all offer the body a rest after a day of taking in the sensory explosion that is the city far below. This place is in a league of its own, unbothered by the gimmicks and stunts of its peers. It is not without its light shows (this is still Vegas, after all), but sheer quality was, is, and always will be the Wynn’s calling card. From $426. —Matt Ortile
Courtesy Jade MountainhotelJade Mountain — St. Lucia
$$$ | Gold List 2025 Readers' Choice Awards 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024Luxury can mean different things to different people. For me it’s about privacy, freedom, and an exquisite sense of space, combined with subtle hospitality that makes you feel effortlessly at home. Jade Mountain embodies this and more. Perched high on St. Lucia’s rugged cliffs, this architectural marvel, crafted from local stone and rough concrete, rises organically from the lush forest. Designed by Canadian architect Nick Troubetzkoy, Jade Mountain frames the breathtaking views of the Pitons from each of its 24 open-air residences (known as sanctuaries). The pinnacle of luxury, Galaxy Sanctuary JE1, features uninterrupted 270-degree views and a 900-square-foot infinity pool with jewel-toned tiles. Here serenity reigns supreme. From $1,530. —Karin Mueller
Rock House JamaicahotelRockhouse Hotel & Spa — Jamaica
$ | Gold List 2018, 2025 Readers' Choice Awards 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023Images of the Rockhouse’s thatch-roof stone villas and bright red ladders dropping into the sea have come to represent a certain brand of Jamaican cool. The property, currently celebrating its 50th anniversary, isn’t shy about honoring its place in pop culture history: Bob Marley and the Rolling Stones once jumped off its iconic cliffs, and reggae and dancehall ephemera line the walls. Rooms are simple but still retain an essence of the sleepy 1970s Negril that originally defined the property: Four-poster beds are draped with mosquito nets and decorated with locally sourced quilts; in the villa rooms, palm-fringed outdoor showers mean morning routines are accompanied by birdsong; and the cool, simple stone floors keep you feeling in tune with island life. Meanwhile, food here is a primer in Jamaican classics, especially at jerk spot Pushcart, where DJs take over the sound systems for regular dance parties. The Rockhouse crowd knows how to have a good time. From $175. —Lale Arikoglu
Courtesy Rosewood Little Dix BayhotelRosewood Little Dix Bay — British Virgin Islands
$$$ | Gold List 2021, 2025 Hot List 2020 Readers' Choice Awards 2017, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024There are Caribbean beach resorts, and then there is Little Dix Bay, which was completely rebuilt after being decimated by hurricanes in 2017, and this year, celebrating its 60th anniversary feels more significant than ever. It’s undoubtedly got the bells and whistles—a truly transcendent spa, one of the best rum collections in the Caribbean, enviable rooms, and so forth—but what sets Little Dix Bay apart is its staff, some of whom have worked here for over 30 years. It’s the kind of place where guests at checkout will turn to their butler and ask, “Same time next year?” From $1,095. —Todd Plummer
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